Rabbitbells
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Crotalaria rotundifolia
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Fabaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower and butterdly gardens. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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A common understory herb in a variety of open, upland ecosystems. |
Availability: |
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Grown by enthusiasts. |
Description: |
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Small herbaceous wildflower. |
Height: |
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Typically 3-6 inches in height. Spreading and forming small, open patches. |
Growth Rate: |
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Moderate. |
Range: |
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Southern and eastern United States west to Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico and Central America. In the Monroe County Keys, disjunct from Miami-Dade County to the pine rocklands of Big Pine Key. |
Habitats: |
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Pinelands and open, coastal uplands. |
Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, without humus. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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Yellow. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Semi-showy, about 5/16" long. |
Flowering Season: |
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All year. |
Fruit: |
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Brown inflated pod (legume). Seeds "rattle" when the fruit is ripe. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Larval host plant for ceraunus blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) butterflies. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed. |
Comments: |
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See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page. |
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